Page 3 - Manolis Kellis News Today

MIT neuroscientists find two distinct cell populations in the striatum are affected differently by Huntington’s disease. They believe neurodegeneration of one of these populations leads to motor impairments, while damage to the other population, located in a structure called the striosome, may account for the mood disorders that are often see in the early stages of the disease.

Neurons in the striatum, a part of the brain affected by Huntingtons disease, are among the most severely affected

Neurons in the striatum, a part of the brain affected by Huntington disease, are among the most severely affected. The degeneration of these neurons contribut

MIT research shows that in people carrying the APOE4 risk variant, a key brain cell type mismanages cholesterol needed to insulate neurons properly — another sign that APOE4 contributes to Alzheimer's disease by disrupting lipids in the brain.

Study in cells and mice suggests that the variant APOE4 affects the all-important insulation around nerve cells

When people carry the Alzheimer's associated APOE4 gene, oligodendrocytes fail to transport fatty molecules to wrap neurons that make brain circuitry connections. This deficit of myelin may contribute to the pathology and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

“People should not say, ‘Oh, great, they’re making a pill; I can stop exercising now.’” Read more on Boston.com.

Researchers have mapped cells, genes, and cellular pathways that are modified by exercise or high-fat diet.

Researchers with MIT and Harvard Medical School conducted a study to see how exercise and high-fat diets impacted the cells of mice.

MIT and Harvard Medical School researchers mapped out many of the cells, genes, and cellular pathways that are modified by exercise or a high-fat diet. They hope their findings will help guide the design of drugs that might mimic some beneficial effects of exercise.